Eastern lowland gorillas have been badly affected by human activities...

Their population has plummeted from 17,000 to about 2,000. The exact number is unknown: problems in the DRC has meant that the gorilla population has been virtually unmonitored since 1996. But the area is now more stable, so the time is right to send teams in to previously unvisited areas of the National Parks to survey the remaining gorilla population.

FFI want to undertake a survey to monitor these gorillas

Fauna & Flora International want to carry out a fully comprehensive survey of the Maiko & Kahuzi-Biega National Parks for 2 reasons:

to better understand the surviving gorillas & the threats they face

to know what steps need to be taken to protect them.

This survey will also help raise the skill level of local rangers and give a considerable boost to their conservation knowledge. The findings of the survey will help FFI to put long term conservation plans into action.

Surveys are crucial to help conservationists decide on the right way forward to save species such as the gorillas. The FFI has now launched an appeal to help raise £82,000 to fund this survey.

The organisation likes to find creative solutions to conservation problems

It works closely with local communities & conservation groups. In the case of the Eastern Lowland Gorilla, FFI works with the wildlife management authority of the Democratic Republic of Congo – the Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature, amongst others on the ground. They are working to improve the protection of Kahuzi-Biega National Park and better the livelihood of the communities living in the area.

It is supported by well respected scientists and conservationists including Sir David Attenborough, Professor David Bellamy, Dr Lee Durrell (wife of the late Gerald Durrell). Dame Judi Dench and Stephen Fry are also involved in FFI. Find out more about who's involved on FFI's About Us page